NUST MISIS, Moscow, Russia:

M. S. Pleshko, Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, mixail-stepan@mail.ru

KANEX Shakhtostroy, Moscow, Russia:
E. A. Lobanov, CEO
D. S. Volkov, Chief Operating Officer

Polar Division of Norilsk Nickel, Norilsk, Russia:

T. S. Mushtekenov, Deputy CEO for Mineral Resources

Currently mineral mining in the world faces continuous growth of mining depth associated with complication of geomechanical conditions and with uncontrollable events induced by confining pressure during mine construction. The reliable prediction and estimation of dynamic events induced by confining pressure is a challenging theoretical and practical problem solvable using analytical, empirical and numerical methods. The article discusses this problem solution as a case-study of heading operations in underground openings RV-1 and RV-2 in Skalisty Mine at the unique depths both in Russia and in Europe: 1800–2000 m in difficult geological conditions. The operations are carried out by company KANEX Shakhtostroy. The rock mass quality assessment by Barton’s index Q shows that it varies from Q = 1–4 (poor quality) to Q = 0.1–1 (very poor quality). The in-situ research and numerical modeling determine the fair stress–strain behavior of rock mass but there exists rockburst hazard and the horizontal stresses exceed the vertical stresses. The maximal horizontal stresses orient nearly north southward, which agree with the monitoring data from shaft SKS-1. In these complex geomechanical conditions, it is recommended to use not stiff mine support systems with high load-bearing capacity but mixed-type support systems with deformation compatibility and high capability to absorb energy. Such engineering solutions, given continuous monitoring and scientific supervision of heading operations, ensure high safety and economic efficiency of mining, which is proved by the positive experience of KANEX Shakhtostroy in super-deep heading operation in RV-1 and RV-2 openings in Skalisty Mine.

1. Pleshko M. S., Davydov A. A., Silchenko Yu. A., Kaledin O. S. Effective lining solutions for super-deep shaft SKS-1 in Skalisty mine in difficult geomechanical conditions. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2020. No. 6. pp. 57–62. DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2020.06.08
2. Eremenko V. A., Lushnikov V. N. Procedure for selecting dynamic ground support for rockbursting mining conditions. GIAB. 2018. No. 12. pp. 5–12.
3. Ghorbani M., Shahriar K., Sharifzadeh M., Masoudi R. A critical review on the developments of rock support systems in high stress ground conditions. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology. 2020. Vol. 30, Iss. 5. pp. 555–572.
4. Bruning T., Karakus M., Akdag S., Nguyen G. D., Goodchild D. Influence of deviatoric stress on rockburst occurrence: An experimental study. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology. 2018. Vol. 28, Iss. 5. pp. 763–766.
5. Abdellah W. R. Serviceability analysis of deep underground openings driven in jointed-rock. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology. 2017. Vol. 27, Iss. 6. pp. 1019–1024.
6. Antsiferov S. V., Sammal A. S., Deev P. V. Stress state estimation in multilayer support of vertical shafts, considering off-design cross-sectional deformation. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 2018. Vol. 134. 012001. DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/134/1/012001
7. Pleshko M., Meskhi B., Pleshko M. A new method for cal culating the combined anchor-concrete support of underground structures. Business Technologies for Sustainable Urban Development : International Science Conference SPbWOSCE-2017. 2017. MATEC Web of Conferences. 2018. Vol. 170. 03023. DOI: 10.1051/matecconf/201817003023
8. Shaposhnik Yu. N., Uskov V. A. Definitions qualitative characteristic (RQD) and rating (RMR) ore mass in the underground drive of the Skalisty mine. Interekspo Geo-Sibir. 2017. Vol. 2, No. 2. pp. 99–107.
9. Brook M., Hebblewhite B., Mitra R. Coal mine roof rating (CMRR), rock mass rating (RMR) and strata control: Carborough Downs Mine, Bowen Basin, Australia. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology. 2020. Vol. 30, Iss. 2. pp. 225–234.
10. Rasskazov I. Yu. Numerical simulation of the present-day tectonic stress field in the Central Asia and Pacific belts junction area. Russian Journal of Pacific Geology. 2006. Vol. 25, No. 5. pp. 104–114.
11. Jiadong Qiu, Lin Luo, Xibing Li, Diyuan Li, Ying Chen et al. Numerical investigation on the tensile fracturing behavior of rock-shotcrete interface based on discrete element method. International Jou rnal of Mining Science and Technology. 2020. Vol. 30, Iss. 3. pp. 293–301.
12. Neskoromnykh V. V., Neverov A. L., Rozhkov V. P., Karataev D. D., Neverov A. A. Analysis of mining and geological conditions of a long borehole drilling on Talnakh ore cluster. Izvestiya Tomskogo politekhnicheskogo universiteta. Inzhiniring georesursov. 2015. Vol. 326, No. 1. pp. 100–110.
13. Lyashenko V. I. Development of science and technology basis for complex-structure rock mass monitoring. Report 1. GIAB. 2017. No. 2. pp. 109–135.
14. “We implement complex and very complex projects : They trust us”. Interview with E. A. Lobanov. Gornaya promyshlennost. 2020. No. 6. pp. 62–63.
15. Kosyreva M. A., Eremenko V. A., Gorbunova N. N., Tereshin A. A. Support design using Unwedge software for mines of Nornickel’s Polar Division. GIAB. 2019. No. 8. pp. 57–64.
16. Pleshko M. S., Pankratenko A. N., Pleshko M. V., Nasonov A. A. Assessment of stress–strain behavior of shaft lining in bottomhole area during sinking by real-time monitoring and computer modeling data. Eurasian Mining. 2021. No. 1. pp. 25–30. DOI: 10.17580/em.2021.01.05
17. Eremenko V. A., Ainbinder I. I., Marysyuk V. P., Nagovitsyn Yu. N. Guidelines for selecting ground support system for the Talnakh operations based on the rock mass quality assessment. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2018. No. 10. pp. 101–106. DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2018.10.18
18. Li C. C. Principles of rockbolting design. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 2017. Vol. 9, Iss. 3. pp. 396–414.